Post by Derek Raines on May 18, 2010 13:45:50 GMT -5
It is a warm, balmy day at the Building of the Planetary Governor. The massive white-stone fortress turned seat of power seems to glow in the heat of the Firetide Sun while banners of celebration placed around the columned entrance snap smartly in the breeze. It is, after all, a day of celebration. With Praetorian Synn slain and R.G.S claimed from the skies the Sith have drawn up their stakes and left Ethos without so much as a blaster bolt.
Governor Faen stands tall and proud from his high balcony dressed in richly cut robes that have a certain military feel to them. Everyone remembers his heroic efforts during the Trandoshan Wars and the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the courtyard lift their voices up in a roar of approval before he speaks.
"Sentients of Ethos! My Brothers and Sisters! My Fathers and Mothers! My Children! The Sith- Have Fled!" More cheers. A maelstrom of voices all with hearts lifted.
"We are free, Ethos! Free to act and react as we so desire! The brave men and women who led to our liberation risked everything to defy the tyrants who would control our very lives! And they won! They spit in the eye of our Sith Masters and showed the entire Sector that defiance is the ultimate weapon against those who wish to rule us with such disregard!" The people of Ethos cheer until their voices grow hoarse.
Governor Faen lets them express their passion a moment longer before he lifts both hands to calm the masses. They quiet almost instantly.
"I say it ends today." Faen's voice becomes a cool and focused hush. "I say we take the initiative and charge the path blazed before us. People of Ethos, I say we gather our numbers, steel our hearts and make ready for war. If the Sith will only yield to defiance, then by the heart of Firetide, we show them DEFIANCE!" The stone shakes from the noise. The people of Ethos affirm their Governor- their warrior ruler has called for war and they have answered.
Suddenly, two honor guards from the Governor's own protection force enter on either sides. There is great urgency in their faces and they are careful to not let their voices be picked up by the holo-coms positioned in front of Faen. The Governor himself seems confused and then angry. He seems defiant. The words "...your own protection..." and "your own good, sir..." are heard over the loud speakers as Faen shrugs off his guards who are trying to usher him off the balcony. He shoves one aside and steps proudly and urgently to his podium.
"Ethos! Do not relent! Remember what is in our hearts! Defiance! Defiance!" The guards take Faen with force by both arms and wrestle him off of the balcony and back inside. The people speak all at once. Roars of anger, murmers of confusion, weeping...
Then the fire falls.
Turbolasers fall from the heavens like red rain- streaking the blue skies and crashing down into the Building of the Planetary Governor with enough power to shatter the reinforced white-stone fortress on impact. The people of Ethos scream and shout while they rush to escape the courtyard and the death that is falling like meteors around them, but there is no mercy. No safe haven in this place. The turbolasers shriek downward and everything beneath turns to fire, charred stone and ash. The Recording-cams pick up everything. It hits the holonet instantly.
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A figure in black appears next following the images of death and destruction on Ethos. He is tall and powerful and his eyes glow red in the darkness. He is standing in the observation deck of some great warship- deep space can be seen behind him as well as a multitude of sleek, black Sith-Star Destroyers firing their weapons downward...
"Creatures of the Firetide Sector, I am Darth Imperatus, your Overlord and God. The people of Ethos burn tonight in their millions and they have no one to blame but themselves. They have taken up arms against my own Generals, attacked Sith military personal, stolen Sith research and technology and have openly spoken of defiance and war. They have signed their own death warrant and I have brought them their just rewards. For I am just. I have safeguarded this sector from countless threats and all I have asked, all any of the Sith have ever asked, is that you obey completely and let us rule. You are cattle. You are rabble. You are scum. For thousands of years you have toiled to govern yourselves as a galaxy and all you have ever done is waged war after war amongst the stars. We are saving you from yourselves and you are not worthy of such a gesture." Darth Imperatus steps closer to the Holo-recorder. There is a scar along his face from the attempt to assassinate him over a year ago.
"I remain in stasis no longer. Those who attempted to take my life have failed and they will be hunted. Those who defied the Sith at Ethos and stole from me, FROM ME! They will be found, tortured and slain and the entire Sector will have the pleasure of viewing it via the holonet. Any acts of rebellion, no matter how small, will be treated as harshly. Any planet that takes arms up against this great Empire will burn as Ethos does tonight. This is my word. This is the law. This is the will of the Sith."
The holofeed goes black.
Governor Faen stands tall and proud from his high balcony dressed in richly cut robes that have a certain military feel to them. Everyone remembers his heroic efforts during the Trandoshan Wars and the hundreds of thousands of people gathered in the courtyard lift their voices up in a roar of approval before he speaks.
"Sentients of Ethos! My Brothers and Sisters! My Fathers and Mothers! My Children! The Sith- Have Fled!" More cheers. A maelstrom of voices all with hearts lifted.
"We are free, Ethos! Free to act and react as we so desire! The brave men and women who led to our liberation risked everything to defy the tyrants who would control our very lives! And they won! They spit in the eye of our Sith Masters and showed the entire Sector that defiance is the ultimate weapon against those who wish to rule us with such disregard!" The people of Ethos cheer until their voices grow hoarse.
Governor Faen lets them express their passion a moment longer before he lifts both hands to calm the masses. They quiet almost instantly.
"I say it ends today." Faen's voice becomes a cool and focused hush. "I say we take the initiative and charge the path blazed before us. People of Ethos, I say we gather our numbers, steel our hearts and make ready for war. If the Sith will only yield to defiance, then by the heart of Firetide, we show them DEFIANCE!" The stone shakes from the noise. The people of Ethos affirm their Governor- their warrior ruler has called for war and they have answered.
Suddenly, two honor guards from the Governor's own protection force enter on either sides. There is great urgency in their faces and they are careful to not let their voices be picked up by the holo-coms positioned in front of Faen. The Governor himself seems confused and then angry. He seems defiant. The words "...your own protection..." and "your own good, sir..." are heard over the loud speakers as Faen shrugs off his guards who are trying to usher him off the balcony. He shoves one aside and steps proudly and urgently to his podium.
"Ethos! Do not relent! Remember what is in our hearts! Defiance! Defiance!" The guards take Faen with force by both arms and wrestle him off of the balcony and back inside. The people speak all at once. Roars of anger, murmers of confusion, weeping...
Then the fire falls.
Turbolasers fall from the heavens like red rain- streaking the blue skies and crashing down into the Building of the Planetary Governor with enough power to shatter the reinforced white-stone fortress on impact. The people of Ethos scream and shout while they rush to escape the courtyard and the death that is falling like meteors around them, but there is no mercy. No safe haven in this place. The turbolasers shriek downward and everything beneath turns to fire, charred stone and ash. The Recording-cams pick up everything. It hits the holonet instantly.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
A figure in black appears next following the images of death and destruction on Ethos. He is tall and powerful and his eyes glow red in the darkness. He is standing in the observation deck of some great warship- deep space can be seen behind him as well as a multitude of sleek, black Sith-Star Destroyers firing their weapons downward...
"Creatures of the Firetide Sector, I am Darth Imperatus, your Overlord and God. The people of Ethos burn tonight in their millions and they have no one to blame but themselves. They have taken up arms against my own Generals, attacked Sith military personal, stolen Sith research and technology and have openly spoken of defiance and war. They have signed their own death warrant and I have brought them their just rewards. For I am just. I have safeguarded this sector from countless threats and all I have asked, all any of the Sith have ever asked, is that you obey completely and let us rule. You are cattle. You are rabble. You are scum. For thousands of years you have toiled to govern yourselves as a galaxy and all you have ever done is waged war after war amongst the stars. We are saving you from yourselves and you are not worthy of such a gesture." Darth Imperatus steps closer to the Holo-recorder. There is a scar along his face from the attempt to assassinate him over a year ago.
"I remain in stasis no longer. Those who attempted to take my life have failed and they will be hunted. Those who defied the Sith at Ethos and stole from me, FROM ME! They will be found, tortured and slain and the entire Sector will have the pleasure of viewing it via the holonet. Any acts of rebellion, no matter how small, will be treated as harshly. Any planet that takes arms up against this great Empire will burn as Ethos does tonight. This is my word. This is the law. This is the will of the Sith."
The holofeed goes black.